9 Movie Moments Too Exciting To Be Onscreen

7. Catch Me If You Can - The Bar Exam

Catch Me If You Can In Catch Me If You Can, Leonardo DiCaprio plays smooth-talking con man named Frank Abagnale Jr. who evades the FBI (and an FBI agent played by Tom Hanks) at every turn. He uses his considerable skills to create millions of dollars in forged checks and has a fake medical degree and license, but he also obtains a law degree after taking the dreaded Bar exam. This entry is different than the others on this list because this movie was inspired by a true story, but the way this particular part of the narrative is carried out is pure movie magic. Tom Hanks's character can piece together every other part of the case, but he cannot figure out how the whiz kid cheated the Bar exam. Frank says that he didn't cheat, that he passed it by studying, but we aren't treated to a Billy Madison-style learning montage that shows us that he was even capable of pulling something like that off. Like almost everything else in the movie we believe Frank because of Leo's overwhelming charm, but is the rug being pulled over our eyes as well. It's an admittedly minor plot point, but it functions as a microcosm for the whole film. Is he really a super genius or is he just clever and handsome enough to trick you into believing he is?
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Bryan Hickman is a WhatCulture contributor residing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bryan's passions include film, television, basketball, and writing about himself in the third person.